1. "Good Song"
Cao Xueqin (Qing Dynasty)
Everyone in the world knows that gods are good, but they cannot forget their fame.
Where are the generals of ancient and modern times? The graves are covered with grass.
Everyone in the world knows that gods are good, but gold and silver cannot be forgotten.
In the end, I only regretted that there was not much gathering, and when it was too long, my eyes closed.
Everyone in the world knows that gods are good, but only my wife can never forget them.
On your birthday, I say kindness, but when you die, you will go with others.
Everyone in the world knows that gods are good, only their children and grandchildren will never forget them.
Since ancient times, there have been many infatuated parents, but no one has ever seen filial children and grandchildren.
Source: "A Dream of Red Mansions"
Translation:
Everyone in the world knows that it is good to be a god, but they can never forget the things that make them famous!
Where are the civil servants and generals from ancient times to today? All that was left was a pile of graves covered by weeds.
Everyone in the world knows that it is good to be a god, but they just can’t forget the gold and silver treasures!
I complain all day long that I haven’t accumulated enough, but when I have accumulated more, I am dead.
Everyone in the world knows that it is good to be a god, but that beautiful wife cannot be forgotten!
When you were alive, she told you how loving you were every day. As soon as you died, she immediately followed others.
Everyone in the world knows that it is good to be a god, but future generations will never forget it!
Since ancient times, there have been countless infatuated parents, but who has really seen their filial descendants?
2. My father gave birth to me, and my mother bowed to me, caressed me, livestock me, grew me, nurtured me, cared for me, and restored me.
Anonymous (Pre-Qin)
Source: "Polygonium"
Translation: Daddy, you gave birth to me, mother, you fed me. You protect me, love me, raise me and nurture me. You miss me and don’t want to leave me. You embrace me when you go out of your house. I want to repay my parents for their great kindness, but it is difficult to predict the disasters God will bring!
3. If the father is unkind, the son will be unfilial; if the brother is not a friend, the younger brother will be disrespectful; if the husband is unjust, the wife will be disobedient.
Yan Zhitui (Southern and Northern Dynasties)
Source: "Governing the Family"
Translation: All customs and education start from the leaders at the top, and then manifest themselves in the masses below In terms of actions; starting from the ancestors, and then implementing it on the descendants. Therefore, if the father cannot be kind, then the son cannot be filial; if the elder brother cannot be friendly, then the younger brother cannot be respectful; if the husband is not affectionate, then the daughter-in-law cannot be obedient.
4. What my parents want to do, I will continue to describe; what my parents think about, I will be affectionate to.
Jin Ying (Qing Dynasty)
Source: "Proverbs Lian Bi·Qijia Lei"
Translation: I want to inherit what my parents expected before they were born; I will be kind to those whom my parents miss.
5. "Watching Village Children Playing on the Stream"
Lu You (Song Dynasty)
After the rain, the stream water swept over the embankment and was flat, watching the village children Xie Wanqing.
The bamboo horse rushes into the water, and the paper kite stalks the wind.
Three winters temporarily studied as a Confucian scholar, while Qianyou still worked as a farmer for his father.
If you are illiterate enough to be able to serve as a servant, you don’t need to work hard to admire the public officials.
Source: "Lu You Ji"
Translation:
After the rain, the stream water is almost as level as the embankment. I take the time to watch the village children playing in the sky when the weather has just cleared. All kinds of fun in the evening.
The bamboo horse was running on the ground, wandering around, and the man and the "horse" rushed into the muddy pond, which was really disappointing; the kite was flying in the air, swaying left and right, flying and screaming. , so not arrogant.
In the three months of winter, children are allowed to go to school and study with private teachers. During the busy farming season, village children follow their father and brother to work in the fields.
Literacy can barely cope with taxation and labor, so why bother working hard to become an official?
6. "Beiguo Xiansi"?
Cao Ye? (Tang Dynasty)
There are green grass in front of the mountains and behind them,
When the sun goes out, the door is still closed.
Every time I think about my flesh and blood, I come to see the wild man pity his descendants.
Translation: There is grass growing everywhere in front of and behind my mountain. I go out all day long and the door of my house is closed. I often miss my own flesh and blood far away, so I have no choice but to come out and see how the old village man enjoys family happiness with his children and grandchildren.